Radio LBB: Generations of Felt

“All sorts really” is often my overly vague and slightly beige response to a question like “so what sort of music are you into?”. I’m not sure how any music lover can really answer a question like that on the fly. How long do I have? Where do I even begin? 

Growing up there was a saying in my house that went something along the lines of “that’s Jonny, a man of few words”. Not because I was a mute or anything like that, but because I never really felt the need to talk all of the time. As people that know me will attest, I can be pretty lively at times whilst not saying much at all. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not so socially awkward that I can’t hold a conversation, but like my hearing, my speech is selective I suppose. So I guess I still consider myself “a man of few words” in many ways. Communicating to me has always been much more than speech… It’s actions and expressions. Add into the mix a selection of different musical instruments that allow me to make a racket and now we’re getting somewhere. Add a splash of the theatrical too, just for good measure. 

I love musical instruments. I am a pianist and guitarist and dabble on anything else I can get my hands on. I love making noise. I was classically trained on the piano for some of my youth, but never overly loved the tuition. I’m grateful for the tuition of course but I always much preferred playing by ear and messing about. When I was finally old enough to ditch the lessons and carry on with my own journey of self tuition, that’s what I did. I was really into expressing myself in new and different ways and trying to figure out every song I listened to. Pause, rewind, pause again, rewind again, repeat. 

I like songs. Alright? The sort of music I am into is “songs”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m into all sorts of non-lyrical music also from film scores, EDM to Classical, but you just can’t beat a good song in my opinion. Little excerpts from other people’s lives packaged up and gifted to us which subsequently score our own lives on a daily basis. The combination of good music and lyrics working together to paint a narrative never gets old for me. 

As to what kind of songs I really like, well I’m sharing with you a playlist of some of my favourite songs of varying styles/genres. To me, the style and genre does not entirely matter, as long as the song makes sense and makes me feel something. All of these songs have made me feel something at some point in my life. This playlist does not include all of my ultimate favourites, as I am putting this together at the time of writing. 

My Dad has always been into ‘60s bands like The Beatles, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, to name a few. This was my introduction to fantastic song writing. My Mum’s taste has always been very eclectic and spans across all sorts of different eras and styles. Even now she introduces me to new tracks she’s recently heard or old favourites from her archive. 

Here are a select few from the playlist below that I like and why. Some newer and some older. If you’re in the mood to hearing what I think makes a banging song, proceed to listening stage now. 

THE KINKS “SUNNY AFTERNOON” 

This track I’ve known since a young boy from when my Dad used to blare it out the car speakers after collecting me from school. What I adore about this track, is that it sounds like the title. It sounds lazy. The piano chords mixed with Ray’s blasé delivery of the lyrics really put you in the moment. The moment it hits D major at the start of the chorus is like a lightbulb moment… The cry to “save me, save me, save me, from this squeeze”. This is a favourite pub piano jam for me and one everyone seems to singalong to. 

FONTAINES D.C. “STARBURSTER” 

These Dublin boys are on to something… This new track is something else. Lyrically perfect and musically hypnotic. Tremolo ild West guitar riffs and a distorted mellotron… It’s a yes from me. The middle eight evokes The Universal by Blur to me. It’s just epic and I’m excited to see where the band go from here.

MR JUKES “ANGELS/YOUR LOVE” 

The moment I heard this track I was mesmerised by it. The hooky bass melody that repeats pretty much throughout the whole thing without it getting irritating/boring. Later on it gets mimed by the tenor sax, which just shifts it up a gear. The brass parts are epic and super theatrical… Almost John Barry Bond-esque. Then you have BJ The Chicago Kid’s vocal gliding over the top of that repeating bass riff… Sublime. 

TOM ODELL “CAN’T PRETEND” 

My favourite Tom Odell track. I absolutely hammered this one when it first came out, both on my Spotify and on the piano. It’s dark and moody in the chord progression, but then explodes into the chorus. And then back to the moodiness. What a feeling. 

FOALS “INHALER” 

Was blown away when this track came out. In classic Foals style, fiddly little riffs intertwining with a bouncy drum beat grounding the whole thing. Great bass line too. Love it when it gets big, heavy and driven in the chorus. Love how it snaps back out of the chorus into verse two. A*. 

BEN E. KING “STAND BY ME” 

First song I learnt on the piano, taught to me by one of my own musical heroes. Simple tune and absolutely perfect in every way, melodically and lyrically. 

COLDPLAY “EVERGLOW” 

Huge love for this beautiful piano led tune. Melodic and tender. The vocal line and piano is the perfect call and response scenario. There is a lot of amazing imagery used all around in the song with the lyrics being delicate to such an extent that it just brings the song to life. 

IDLES “NEVER FIGHT A MAN WITH A PERM” 

One of the best frontmen of his generation I reckon. Terrifying and soft in equal measure. Such an exciting band. “He hates me, I LIKE THAT!” 

THE BEATLES “SOMETHING” 

The ultimate love song with limitless depth. The chord changes are very George and work so well, if a little unexpected. If you haven’t heard Paul McCartney’s Ukulele version of this from Concert For George, do this now… It also features Eric Clapton and ELO’s Jeff Lynne. 

THE VERVE “BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY” 

One of my all time favourite songs in the world. The string riff will come with me to my grave. The lyrics evoke something deep within. 

NINA SIMONE “SINNERMAN” 

What a journey. Just stick it on and get taken on a wild ride. You’ve probably been here before, but go again. It never gets old. 

I could go on about the rest of the stuff on this playlist, but I realise you most likely have more important things to be doing! If you’re ever up for hearing me talk in more detail on why I love the rest of these tunes, get me down the pub and we can skip the “what sort of music are you into” question and get straight to the nitty gritty… Music should be felt!